103 97

For the first time this postseason, the Boston Celtics have lost a game at the TD BankNorth Garden. Game 2 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals didn’t go as well as the Celtics had hoped. Just by looking at the score, you may be able to figure out what the main issue was: defense. The C’s gave up 103 points and played as shaky defensively as they have all season long on their home floor.

Defensively, the C’s were inconsistent throughout, but down the stretch, they gradually got worse. While the Celtics were capitalizing out of timeouts offensively, they were blatantly missing rotations on the other end of the floor, thus allowing Detroit to counter nearly every bucket in the waning moments of the ballgame. Most notably, Chauncey Billups was left wide open for an uncontested reverse layup at the 18-second mark to put the Pistons up by six and virtually seal the deal.

It was evident that the Celtics made a plethora of mental mistakes throughout this game, but the argument also could be made that fatigue played a role in those missed/late rotations.

Offensively, “The Big Three” was phenomenal for the majority of the game, as they combined for 75 points on 56.8% shooting. Kevin Garnett tallied another double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce put together a solid 26-4-5 line on 9-16 shooting, and finally… finally… Ray Allen showed up. Allen looks to have reestablished his feel, as the seven-time NBA All-Star poured in 25 points on 9-16 shooting, and also managed to knock down multiple big shots down the stretch.

The problem on the offensive end had nothing to do with either of the three All-Stars. The problem was the limited production from Boston’s supporting cast, especially off the bench. P.J. Brown deserves some love for knocking down a pair of mid-range jumpers in the fourth quarter, but other than that, the role players did not play up to par in Game 2. Rajon Rondo may have filled the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, but those numbers are deceiving. He also shot 2-9 from the floor, made as many mental mistakes as anybody on the floor, and may have put together his worst defensive outing of the postseason. In addition, Eddie House struggled with Detroit’s ball pressure, Kendrick Perkins let his frustrations get the best of him, and the supporting group (meaning everybody outside of Allen, Garnett, and Pierce) shot a combined 6-21 from the field (28.6%).

Detroit, on the other hand, got a big time contribution off the bench from impressive rookie Rodney Stuckey. The first-year guard scored 13 points on 5-8 shooting, and was the major proponent to Detroit’s early-fourth-quarter scoring burst, where he scored six points within the first four minutes of that final frame.

The starting backcourt put Detroit over the top, though. First and foremost, Chauncey Billups played a much better game than he did in Game 1, where he shot 3-6 from the floor. In Game 2, “Mr. Big Shot” came up huge with 19 points and seven assists, and scored the aforementioned game-clincher at the 18-second mark of the fourth quarter. His running mate “Rip” Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring with 25 points on 7-16 shooting, and did a terrific job of drawing fouls (specifically against Ray Allen), in which he shot 10-12 from the free throw line. In Game 1, the All-Star duo combined for five costly turnovers. In this one? Just two.

This puts the Celtics into a position they have never been in before as a group. Should the Celtics lose Game 3 on Saturday night, it would become the first scenario where the Celtics have trailed in a series all postseason long. With that pressure, along with Boston’s 0-6 road record thus far in the playoffs, comes the possibility of heading back to Boston for Game 5 down 3-1. That cannot happen.

Simply put, the Celtics no longer have homecourt advantage as a crutch. If they fail to win on the road, they will be watching June’s NBA Finals from their couches at home. It’s time for the Celtics to answer the call and get the monkey off of their back. They need to go to The Palace and take one from the Pistons, and at least bring this series back to Boston for Game 5 tied up at 2-2.

It’s make or break time; we will now officially find out what this team is truly made of.

Box Score

Player of the Game

Ray Allen
25 PTS, 2 REBS, 2 ASTS, 2 STLS, 9-16 FG, 2-4 3FG, 5-5 FT

* It feels wrong to award the player of the game to a player on the losing end, but this was a special circumstance. Ray Allen finally broke out of the most abysmal shooting streak of his professional career, and despite the loss, it was a relief to see.

Series Standings: Series tied 1-1
Game 3: Saturday (5/24/08) at 8:30 pm ET.

One Response to “Detroit Splits At The Garden”

1. Celtics247.com » Blog Archive » Today’s Links 5/23 Says:
   May 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 am

   [...] Herald Celtics lose homecourt, series lead Pistons steal home Light finally on for Ray Defense rests in defeat Big Baby Glen Davis grows up in first postseason Chauncey Billups, Rodney Stuckey stand guard over Pistons Dave Cowens: Big Red is Green no more Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups: A special twosome Garnett scores TV commercial deal with Verizon Celtics shoot to raise ticket costs Globe Home schooled Of Rodney, Rip and Ray Taught a hard lesson Playoff class was on display Hamilton’s energy helped set the tone There’s no fear factor Ainge, staff preparing for pre-draft camp Numbers left Garnett numb Pistons stuck it to the bench Ratliff did his part It’s only one won Various posts on the game in the Globe Celtics blog Celtics fans: Watch out for Detroit and bogus gear When the Legend was born MetroWest Daily Now, we’ll see what C’s are made of Pistons 103, Celtics 97: Home wreckers Celtics.com Playoff postups notebook live game blog Post game press conference Allen breaks through but C’s break down in Game 2 CelticsBlog A truly thoughtless loss Home streak snapped LOY’s Place Comments from the other side - Pistons game 2 Pistons steal home court, tie series at 1-1 KG has TV in his bathroom? NBA.com Pistons win in Boston, steal home court edge Game 2 live blog Kevin Garnett wins community assist award ESPN Pistons prove six is still greater than three Hoopsworld Shuttlesworth’s return not enough for Celtics Pistons steal home court advantage from Celtics Detroit splits at the Garden Red’s Army It’s our own fault Perkisabeast The playoffs- the vertigo edition Pistons prevail in game 2, put ubuntu to the test Celtics 17 Detroit: Eats, shoots and leaves TWolves Blog KG cast ECF game 2 Detroit Free Press Pistons rookie makes Bad Boy difference Pistons tie up Celtics Tayshaun Prince respects fellow Wildcat Rajon Rondo Sheed two technicals away from suspension Big stat, hero, goat and two cents from game 2 in Boston Detroit News Hamilton avoids one game penalty Boston coolers: Pistons deal Celtics first home playoff loss Wallace’s poise sets the tone Adjustments lead to backcourt production Pistons, Celtics fans urged to behave before games at the Palace SouthCoast Today Billups gives Pistons a leg up Allen finally awakes Dime Pistons 103, Celtics 97 instant analysis Yahoo Sports Celtics Big Three exposed after home loss Detroit Bad Boys It’s all tied up Green Bandwagon Game 2 recap Connecticut Post Ray finds his J, Celts lose their D (and the game) Celtics, fans on quite a roller coaster ride Jay’s Sports Panic! Worcester Telegram C’s, Pistons know controlling the boards is key Fit to be tied Grousbeck heads to his lucky turf Sports of Boston Celtics lose first home playoff game Need4Sheed Game two streak still going strong MLive Hamilton delivers in clutch against Boston Shamrock Headband The damage done Fox Sports Boston in big trouble after home loss KG is the heart of the Celtics InRich.com Former UR guard Eastman enjoying time as Celts coach Stet Sports Blog Why the Celtics don’t need Ray Allen to shoot well BostonSportZ Sloppy play sinks Boston Patriot Ledger Celtics lose security blanket Celtics now need road win after game 2 loss Allen back to form in Celtics loss Cavs News Ron Harper, the best thing that ever happened to Michael Jordan Sporting News Balanced Pistons overcome big night from Big Three [...]

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